Deck-plate.



' through it.

ELMER A. ELY, OF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

DECK-PLATE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

A li ati fil d February 9. 1906. Serial No. 300,256.

provide holes with tight but easily-removable covers.

The object of the invention is to provide a very simple and cheap article of this nature which can be quickly and conveniently ap plied to the deck or floor of a boat orother structure in such manner that the opening may be tightly closed to prevent the entrance of water or quickly opened to allow access parts together and means for releasing the;

bolt when it is desired to remove the plate from the frame.

Figure 1 of the views shows a plan of the plate and the frame fastened together as in use.

F 4 shows a diametrical section of the plate and frame.

The frame 1 is preferably an annular piece of metal with perforations for the screws which are used for the purpose of fastening the frame on or in the deck or floor about the opening. Extending inwardly from the inner edge of the frame is an annular flange 2, and in this flange, on diametrically opposite sides, are sockets 3. The flange is designed to fit the opening and the annular plate to rest upon or to be let into the deck or floor about the opening. The plate 4 is preferably circular and a little smaller in diameter than the diameter of the frame. Extending downwardly from the under side of the plate is a flange 5, which is slightly smaller than the opening through the flange of the frame. On the under side of the plate is a chamber, and lying in this chamber and having one end extending Fig. 2 shows abottom viewof the frame. Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the plate, and

through the flange is a bolt 6. Aspring 7 tends to thrust this bolt so that its end will project out through the flange. Connected with the bolt and extending upwardly through the plate is a stud 8, thatis attached to a button 9, which lies upon the upper surface of the plate. By moving this button the bolt may be drawn back into the chamber against the thrust of the spring. Projecting outwardly from the flange diametrically opposite to the projecting end of the movable bolt is a fixed stud 10.

In use the frame is fastened by screws or bolts to the deck or floor about the opening to be covered. The plate is attached to the frame by thrusting the fixed stud that projects from the flange of the plate into one of the sockets in the flange of the frame and then forcing down the other side of the plate until the end of the spring-bolt snaps into the other socket in the frame-flange. This holds the plate and the frame tightly together. If desired, a packing 11, of rubber or other material, may be placed on the under side of the plate about the flange for the purpose of making the joint tight when the parts are together.

In order to open the plate, the button is pulled or pushed back so as to draw the spring-bolt within the chamber. The re leased edge of the plate is then tipped upwardly until the edge of the flange on the plate is out of the opening through the frame. Then the plate may be drawn forwardly and upwardly until the stud is drawn from the rear socket, after which the plate can be lifted clear from the frame. These plates are more particularly used for covering deck-openings above gasolene-tanks, Water-tanks, or pumpoutlets, but of course they may be used for other purposes.

The plate described is cheap to make, simple to apply, and can be opened and closed easily and quickly, either in the daylight or dark, and requires no key such as is used with the common deck-plates which are screwed to and from place.

The invention claimed is Adeck-plate comprising an annular frame having an inwardly-extending annular flange with perforations diametrically opposite each other through the flange, a circular plate having an inwardly-extending annular flange with perforations diametrically opposite each other through the flange and a slot through the center of the plate, a fixed stud projecting through one perforation in the platethe plate and a button fastened to the stud flange and into one frame-flange perforation, i and covering the slot, substantially as specia movable bolt projecting through the other fied.

perforation in the plate-fiange and into the 5 other frame-flange perforation, a spring fore- I Vitnesses:

ing the bolt outwardly, a stud extending J ENNIE M. GRIsWoLD,

from the bolt through the slot in the center of M. EUGENE OULVER.

ELMER A ELY. 

